The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-05
Grumblers and Newspapers.


paper. They are chronic grumblers
and fault finders. and are constantly
Directing to the management of the
paper they choose to give their small
patronage. They don't like the kind
of news it gives, just as if the editor
had the making up of the news to
order and forgetting that others. with
different tastes from themselves, want
quite different kind of reading than
they do, and that an editor does not
make selection of news to suit him
self, but a variety of readers of vary
ing opinions, and so must give all
the events of the day as they occur,
regardless of the taste of few or
any class of individuals. There are
some people who want all the tele-
graphic news from all over the world,
while others think the preference
should be given to local happenings.
Some want more religious matter in
the paper, while others grumble if
any space is devoted to religious in
telligence at all. One class wants the
full particulars of all the prize fights,
cooking mains, and sporting news
generally, while another don't want
any mention at all of such events.
Some like long miscellaneous articles
on deep subjects, and some want
short and pithy articles and plenty
of fun. And so it goes, with COM
plants all along the line from the
fraternity of chronic grumblers,
every one of whom knows how to
run newspaper better than the edi-
tor himself. and who. if placed in the
editors chair for week, would give
up in disgust after a day or two's ex.
perience.
Then we have class of people who
are continually wanting to vent their
spleen on some unfortunate fellow
who has incurred their displeasure,
and fearing to say what they think of
said individual to his face think the
newspapers just the thing to suit
them, under some non. de-plan want
to use its columns and get angry if
the editor don't publish their frothy
vaporings of ill humor. This class
are generally found among the people
who don't patronize the paper them
selves, but generally get its news by
borrowing their neighbours paper. 1t
has been our experience that the peo-
pie who do the least towards the sup
port of paper are just the people
who expect most of the editor, and
find the most fault with his manage
ment.
During the political campaigns. es-
pecially, is an editor fearfully bored.
There are so many men who want to
run the campaign. They have i'm
portant ideas to ventilate. They
know this and that about candidate
that, if known to the public, will
knock said candidate "higher than a
kite" So they rush to the party
papers with their communications.
They have very valuable and i'm
portant item they want inserted. Its
"all true as preaching, but whatever
you do Mr.. Editor don't say who
wrote it, just sign it Citizen or X. Y.
2. or Tax Payer, and don't neglect to
get it in to-day" The editor may
not see things in the same light as
his correspondent, but if be refuses
the article. it soon becomes noised
abroad that the paper is shaky, it's
not good party organ, the other
party has subsidized it and the editor
Is afraid to speak out. If he does
publish communication he comes in
for a good share of abuse from the
opposite party for abusing its candi-
date, he is accused of manufacturing
the communications in his own Office,
and thus in the house of his friends,
as we'll as in the house of his enc
lC 10 hCpt NV
water. He makes enemies of friends
and still greater enemies of his po-
litical opponents. Yes, its nice to be
an editor. especially of party organ,
In community where there is an
extra supply of chronic grumblers
and cranks. Thank fortune, how
ever, the class we are speaking of are
but small part community, while
the masses of people appreciate the
burdens and trials of the newspaper
man, and pass by his little frailities
when he makes bright, clean and
newsy paper and has the courage of
his own convictions and freedom in
expressing them.-Erchdnge.